Impact Grant

Geographic Scope: Martin County, Florida

Background

It is part of the global Impact100 movement, which was created and founded in 2001 by Wendy Steele (2014 Jefferson Award recipient for Public Service). The organization operates as a giving circle within The Community Foundation Martin-St. Lucie.

Model

At least 100 women each donate $1,000 annually, with 100% of donations given directly to charity. Members collectively vote to award Impact Grants of $100,000 to nonprofit organizations and programs.

Purpose & Focus

• Awards for nonprofit organizations and programs serving Martin County
• Funding for initiatives and projects with profound and lasting impact on the Martin County community
• Addresses critical needs and problems in Martin County
• Eligible focus areas: All facets of need in Martin County (education, human services, health, hunger relief, domestic violence support, youth programs, etc.)

Eligibility

• Applicant Type: Nonprofit organizations serving Martin County
• Program/Project Requirements: Must address a critical need or problem with lasting impact on the community
• Geographic Scope: Martin County, Florida only

Grant History

• 2018: First grant awarded to Project LIFT ($100,000)
• 2019: Second annual grant ($100,000)
• 2020: COVID-19 emergency grants ($224,000 total distributed to 14 nonprofits in emergency response)
• 2021: Two $100,000 grants awarded (House of Hope and SafeSpace)
• 2022: Organization topped $1M+ in total grants since founding
• As of latest reporting (2022), over $1,034,000 awarded to area nonprofits

Contact Information

Address: 11718 SE Federal Hwy., #440, Hobe Sound, FL 33455
Contact Person: Robin Cartwright (Membership inquiries)

Additional Notes

• The organization has grown from seeking 100 members to 200+ members as of recent years
• Multiple grants may be awarded in a single year (e.g., 2021 awarded two $100,000 grants)
• Annual Grant Awards Celebration typically held in April where members vote on recipients
• Finalists present proposals and members vote electronically for recipients

Overview

The application process includes a Letter of Intent (LOI) submission followed by full grant applications from finalists. Nonprofits may be invited to a Grants Workshop for guidance on eligibility, guidelines, and deadlines.

Steps

1. Attend Grants Workshop (Optional but Recommended)
   • Informational session covering grant process details, eligibility, guidelines, and deadlines
   • Typically held in January
   • RSVP with Robin Cartwright at (772) 288-3795
2. Submit Letter of Intent (LOI)
   • Submission deadline: Typically late January (e.g., January 24 for 2019 cycle)
   • Submit to [email protected]
   • LOI should outline the proposed program/project
3. Finalist Selection
   • Organizations submitting LOIs are reviewed
   • Finalists are selected to proceed to full application
4. Submit Full Grant Application
   • Selected finalists complete full applications
   • Application details available at www.impact100martin.org
5. Finalist Presentations
   • Finalists present proposals at Grant Awards Celebration (typically April)
   • Presentation time: 7 minutes per organization
   • Members attend presentations (in-person and/or virtual)
6. Member Vote
   • Impact100 Martin members vote electronically for grant recipients
   • Votes cast during or immediately following presentations
   • Winners announced at celebration event

Required Materials

• Letter of Intent (LOI) with program/project description
• Full grant application (if invited as finalist)
• Complete grant information and application materials available at www.impact100martin.org

Key Deadlines

• LOI Submission: Typically late January
• Grant Awards Celebration & Voting: Typically mid-April
• Notification of award: Announced at celebration event

Important Notes

• Complete grant guidelines, eligibility requirements, and application details available at www.impact100martin.org
• Nonprofits addressing all facets of need in Martin County are eligible
• Proposed program/project must have profound and lasting impact on the community
• Early planning recommended: "It's not too early to start thinking of a project..."

Grant FAQs & Additional Information

Frequently asked questions about the grants process, timeline, LOI requirements, and other details available at www.impact100martin.org/grant-faqs or www.impact100martin.org/loi-application